Hat or cap with uv protection

ABSTRACT

A method for fabricating a hat or cap by forming a crown; and attaching a brim around said crown; and wherein said brim has at least 30% area with a UV material to block transmission of substantially all UV light.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a horizontally extending brim or visor on hatsand caps.

Caps and hats have long been used to protect the head and face fromsunlight. However, conventional hats do not provide full visibility.Recently, brims or visors have been incorporated into hats and caps.Again, while shielding the wearer from sunlight, these devices partiallyblock the view of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a hat with sunlight protection includes a crown and alaterally extending brim surrounding said crown, wherein at least thirtypercent of the brim is an ultraviolet (UV) blocking material.

In another aspect, a cap with sunlight protection includes a crown and alaterally extending brim surrounding said crown, wherein at least thirtypercent of the brim is an ultraviolet (UV) blocking material.

Implementations of the hat or cap can include one or more of thefollowing. The brim has a surface can be curvy. The brim can be a UVinhibitor. The brim can have a thickness of about 0.020 inch to blocksunlight. The crown and brim are formed from said sheet by sewing and/orvacuum forming. The brim can be formed with a textured exterior surface.An anti-glare material can be provided on the brim such as on aninterior surface of said brim. A decorative element can be formed on thecrown. The decoration can be a ribbon, a patch, a feature, among others.The UV material can be one of: a transparent film, a sheet, a screen, aplastic material, or a polymer material. The brim has a thicknesssufficient to block transmission of substantially all UV light, andwherein said hat blocks transmission of substantially all ambientradiation having a wavelength from about 300 nm to about 850 nm. The hatwith the brim can be rotatable relative the crown portion thereof.

Advantages of the hat may include one or more of the following. The hator cap protects the wearer skin and eyes from harmful solar radiation.The brim with a close-fitting wraparound style provide the bestprotection because they limit how much stray sunlight reaches the eyesfrom above and beyond the periphery of the eyes. The hat/cap reducesoverexposure to UVA radiation which has been linked to the developmentof certain types of cataracts, and research suggests UVA rays may play arole in development of macular degeneration. The hat/cap with UV brimalso reduces UVB rays which are thought to help cause pingueculae andpterygia. These growths on the eye's surface can become unsightly andcause corneal problems as well as distorted vision.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a hat according to the present invention having a crownportion with a brim attached to the crown portion.

FIG. 2 shows a hat where the brim is at least 30% UV material.

FIG. 3 shows a cap where the brim is at least 30% UV material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures and, in particular, FIG. 1, there is shown ahat according to the present invention, generally indicated as referencenumber 1, comprising a crown portion 20 and a brim 30.

As used herein, the outside of crown portion 20 is the side visible toothers when hat 1 is worn on a wearer's head, while the inside of crownportion 20 is the side facing the wearer's head when hat 1 is beingworn. The opening of crown portion 20 is defined by a generallyhorizontal lower periphery 22. Crown portion 20 has a vertical centralaxis c that extends through the topmost point (i.e., the decorativebutton) of crown portion 20 and perpendicularly to lower periphery 22.The terms “horizontal” and “vertical,” as used herein, are relativeterms connotating a perpendicular relationship, whereby the “horizontal”lower periphery may have any absolute orientation, and the “vertical”central axis will have the correspondingly perpendicular absoluteorientation.

Alternatively, the crown portion 20 can have a cylindrical shape or theshape of a band having the lower periphery 22 and an upper periphery 23,whereby the hat has an open top or upper opening and an open bottom orlower opening. With such a configuration, a hat according to the presentinvention could be classified as a “visor.”

Brim 30 has a proximate portion 32 that, as shown, is either removablyor substantially permanently secured to crown portion 20. Preferably,about 30% or more of the hat's brim 30 is made of UV-transparent film,sheet, screen, plastic, or polymer materials. Brim 30 extendssubstantially horizontally away from crown portion 20, so as to provideshade for the wearer's eyes and face. The purpose for which hat 1 is tobe used may dictate varying shapes, lengths and angles with respect tobrim 30. Brim 30 may be formed by any appropriate method using anysuitable material or materials, for example a fabric material that isstitched to, or contains, a stiffening material, such as cardboard orplastic.

While the thickness of the brim sheet is typically about 0.020 inch, itmay be as thin as about 0.012 inch and yet still produce a hat 10 whichmaintains its shape and completely blocks harmful ultraviolet lightincluding both ambient UVA and UVB radiation.

The wavelength of the UV region which includes UVA and UVB light extendsfrom about 300 nm to about 400 nm. Visible light extends over awavelength range of about 400 to 700 nm, near infrared extends overabout 700 nm to 1700 nm and for infrared from about 1700 nm to about2600 nm.

UVC rays are the highest-energy UV rays and potentially could be themost harmful to eyes and skin. Fortunately, the atmosphere's ozone layerblocks virtually all UVC rays. But this also means depletion of theozone layer potentially could allow high-energy UVC rays to reach theearth's surface and cause serious UV-related health problems. UVC rayshave wavelengths of 100-280 nanometer (nm).

UVB rays have slightly longer wavelengths (280-315 nm) and lower energythan UVC rays. These rays are filtered partially by the ozone layer, butsome still reach the earth's surface. In low doses, UVB radiationstimulates the production of melanin (a skin pigment), causing the skinto darken, creating a suntan. But in higher doses, UVB rays causesunburn that increases the risk of skin cancer. UVB rays also cause skindiscolorations, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging of the skin.UVA rays. These are closer to visible light rays and have lower energythan UVB and UVC rays. But UVA rays can pass through the cornea andreach the lens and retina inside the eye.

FIG. 2 shows a hat where the brim is at least 30% UV material in theshaded region 33, while the rest of the brim 30 can be conventionalleather or fabric, for example. As seen in FIG. 2, the UV materialpreferred for hat 10 effectively blocks all ambient light transmissionfrom about 300 nm to about 850 nm, indicating that the preferred sheetstock PVC material with a thickness as low as 0.012 inch is completelyresistant to the transmission of light in the UV region. This providessignificant benefits in terms of protecting the skin against the harmfuleffects of UV light.

As shown in FIG. 3, a crown portion 40 may be constructed using anysuitable materials and methods. For example, as shown, crown portion 40is formed of a plurality of segments sewn together to provide a domedshape adapted to cover the top of a wearer's head. The intersection ofthe stitching at the uppermost point of the crown portion is usuallycovered with a decorative button or knob, which may be sewn or stapledthereto. With such a configuration, a hat according to the presentinvention could be classified as a “baseball cap.”

By comparison, as seen in FIG. 3, a brim 50 has UV blocking material 53covering at least 30% of the brim. For outdoor sporting, the cap reducessignificant levels of UV light transmission throughout substantially theentire UV range. In one embodiment, the brim has a UV inhibitor whichprotects the brim against deterioration from sunlight.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the crown portion 20 can have decorativeelements such as ribbons or flowers, among others. For sport caps shownin FIG. 3, the crown portion 40 can display one decorative symbol,letter, badge, emblem, or combination of letters or words, such as, forexample, a patch embodying a logo of a sports team. Crown portion 40 mayinclude several decorative or secondary symbols, letters, badges,emblems, words, and combinations thereof. However, in general, onesegment of crown portion 40 will have a primary symbol, letter, badge,emblem, word or combination thereof. The segment of crown portion 40having this primary decoration P is referred to herein as the frontsegment or section of the cap. The remaining segments or sections ofcrown portion 20 are referred to herein as side segments, and mayinclude at least one additional or secondary decorative symbol, letter,badge, emblem or combination of letters, or words such as, for example apatch P′ as shown. Of course, the side segment of crown portion 20 thatis diametrically opposite the front segment of the cap is referred toherein as the back of the cap.

Assembly of hat 1 may be accomplished using a method suitable method ofconstruction or manufacture. As stated above, any materials may be usedto make hat 1. A representative method of construction may include thefollowing steps: (i) forming crown portion 20 by sewing together sixtriangular segments of a fabric, such as a heavy-weight cotton canvas,and attaching a decorative button at its top; (ii) forming brim 30 bysewing a fabric covering around a cardboard structure; (iii) attachingto the brim 30 to the crown portion 20.

In use, a wearer places hat 1 upon the wearer's head. Brim 30 willnormally extend forwardly of the wearer to provide shade to the wearer'seyes. When it is desired to reorient brim 30, such as when it becomesnecessary to prevent the wind from lifting the hat from the head, orsuch as when it becomes necessary to rapidly look upwardly to follow abird for example, brim 30 may rapidly be rotated with respect to thewearer's head without removing hat 1.

The present invention having been thus described with particularreference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hat, comprising: a crown; and a laterallyextending brim surrounding said crown, wherein at least thirty percentof the brim is an ultraviolet (UV) blocking material and wherein the UVblocking material is only on the brim and not on the crown.
 2. The hatof claim 1, wherein said brim comprises a UV inhibitor.
 3. The hat ofclaim 1, wherein said brim comprises a thickness of about 0.020 inch. 4.The hat of claim 1, wherein said crown and said brim are formed fromsaid sheet by vacuum forming.
 5. The hat of claim 1, wherein said crownand said brim are formed with a textured exterior surface.
 6. The hat ofclaim 1, further comprising an anti-glare material provided on saidbrim.
 7. The hat of claim 6, comprising an anti-glare material on aninterior surface of said brim.
 8. The hat of claim 1, comprising adecorative element on the crown.
 9. The hat of claim 1, wherein the UVmaterial comprises one of: a transparent film, a sheet, a screen, aplastic material, or a polymer material.
 10. The hat of claim 1, whereinthe brim has a thickness sufficient to block transmission ofsubstantially all UV light, and wherein said hat blocks transmission ofsubstantially all ambient radiation having a wavelength from about 300nm to about 850 nm.
 11. A cap, comprising: a crown; and a laterallyextending brim surrounding said crown, wherein at least thirty percentof the brim is an ultraviolet (UV) blocking material.
 12. The cap ofclaim 11, wherein said brim comprises a UV inhibitor.
 13. The cap ofclaim 11, wherein said brim comprises a thickness of about 0.020 inch.14. The cap of claim 11, wherein said crown and said brim are formedfrom said sheet by vacuum forming.
 15. The cap of claim 11, wherein saidcrown and said brim are formed with a textured exterior surface.
 16. Thecap of claim 11, further comprising an anti-glare material provided onsaid brim.
 17. The cap of claim 11, comprising a decorative element onthe crown.
 18. The cap of claim 11, wherein the UV material comprisesone of: a transparent film, a sheet, a screen, a plastic material, or apolymer material.
 19. The cap of claim 11, wherein the brim has athickness sufficient to block transmission of substantially all UVlight, and wherein said hat blocks transmission of substantially allambient radiation having a wavelength from about 300 nm to about 850 nm.20. A method of fabricating a hat or cap, comprising: forming a crown;and attaching a brim around said crown; and wherein said brim has atleast 30% area with a UV material to block transmission of substantiallyall UV light.